§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has taken any steps to monitor the use of emergency medication in the special hospital system; and if he intends to accept the guidelines for prescribing medication set out in the Ritchie report.
§ Mr. WhitneyFor reasons which were explained fully when my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) published Miss Ritchie's report, her recommendation regarding advance prescribing was not accepted. Fresh guidelines to medical and nursing staff in Broadmoor hospital about prescribing practice had already been issued, however, before Miss Ritchie's report was received. Each of the special hospitals now has up-to-date guidance consistent with good modern practice for dealing with difficult situations.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the Ritchie report, he has any plans to improve the quality of care within the special hospital system; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyI am concerned constantly to maintain and to improve the quality of care provided for patients in special hospitals. We have regular exchanges with the local managers of the special hospitals and have invested substantial resources in those hospitals aimed at ensuring improvements both in standards of care and in the quality of life of patients and of the staff who work in the292W hospitals. The particular matters raised in Miss Ritchie's report were dealt with when the report was received and in advance of its receipt. I look to the local boards which are now to be introduced to continue and develop this work, as the Rampton hospital review board has done.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the Ritchie report on the death of Michael Martin, he has any plans to lay down guidelines to ensure that relatives are fully informed about the condition and treatment of patients in secure mental hospitals.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe need to provide advice and information to relatives about the condition and treatment of patients is a normal and fully accepted responsibility of staff in special hospitals, as in all other hospitals. Staff recognise that relatives may find it very hard to come to terms with the seriousness of a patient's mental condition. In addition to contacts between relatives and medical and nursing staff, each special hospital has its own social work department, which has a particular concern with maintaining, and sometimes restoring, contact with families where this is appropriate. The difficulties which arose in the case of Mr. Martin have been fully discussed between officers of the Department and the managers of Broadmoor hospital with a view to ensuring that similar problems will not recur.